Whitehall police arrest Shell robbery suspect

Enlarge ImageBuy This PhotoWhitehall police have arrested Tyler Jay Ballengee, 23, of Enon Valley, Pa., in connection with a Nov. 9 robbery of a gas station.

Whitehall police arrested a Pennsylvania man Nov. 9 in connection with a robbery at an East Broad Street gas station in Whitehall.

Police arrested Tyler Jay Ballengee, 23, of Enon Valley, Pa.

Police said Ballengee entered the Shell gas station, 4780 E. Broad St., at about 8:20 p.m. Nov. 4 and pulled an ax from his jacket.

Ballengee allegedly slammed the ax onto the counter, smashing the glass-covered countertop, demanded money and grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash from an open cash register before running away, police said.

The incident was recorded on a video camera and provided a clear image of Ballengee, according to police.

Police released the image to local media, which resulted it tips and the apprehension of Ballengee, whom police learned was staying at a nearby hotel.

Whitehall Detective Guy Grinstead credited the media and the public for assistance in the arrest.

"Other than the surveillance image of the suspect, there were very few leads to pursue. The media and the public really came through for us," he said.

Ballengee was arraigned Nov. 10 in Franklin County Municipal Court, where a judge set a $50,000 cash or surety bond.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 19 in Franklin County Municipal Court.